Real merchandise trade developments & output in 2006 – WTO reports
12 Apr '07
2 min read
At 13.5%, Asia's real merchandise exports remained the most buoyant of all regions. Asia's imports rose faster than in the preceding year and faster than world trade but continued to lag behind its export growth. Most of the excess of Asia's export over import growth can be attributed to the region's major traders, China and Japan.
The expansion of China's exports was somewhat less dynamic in 2006 than in 2005, while Japan, the Republic of Korea and Chinese Taipei recorded a faster growth (between 10% and 15%). Imports into Japan and Chinese Taipei, however, advanced by only 2% to 3% in 2006.